Review of President's Performance
Chancellor Barry Munitz has concluded his review of my performance as President of California State University, Northridge. Conducted in accordance with CSU Board of Trustee policy, this third year review was based on letters solicited from the campus and the local community. The Chancellor has discussed his conclusions with the Trustees.
You will find enclosed the Chancellor's summary of his evaluation for distribution to the campus community. I am very grateful to those of you who participated in this important process and provided thoughtful and candid comments about my performance. The review provided an opportunity for you to express your confidential views and concerns. Your comments, in turn, enabled me to gain a valuable understanding of your goals and expectations as they relate to the future of the university.
I appreciate the confidence that was expressed in my leadership, which I attribute to the outstanding support and guidance of faculty, staff and students. Please be assures, too, that I am respectful of your constructive comments about shared governance and empowerment on campus. I look forward to working with the university community to implement the goals outlined in the enclosed summary and to ensuring the continued growth and excellence of Cal State Northridge.
Blenda J. Wilson
President January 27, 1995
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
January 25, 1995
Open Letter to the California State University, Northridge Community:
At its January 24-25, 1995 meeting, the Board of Trustees of the California State University received the evaluation report which I presented on Dr. Blenda Wilson's leadership as President of California State University, Northridge and the current state of affairs of the university. This was the first review of Dr. Wilson's performance since becoming President in August 1992.
Criteria established by the Board of Trustees in 1983, and revised in 1994, were used to assess the overall effectiveness of Dr. Wilson. These include measures of overall management of the university, relations on campus and within the CSU system, educational leadership, community relations, major achievements, and personal characteristics.
The strong opinion of the campus community is that Dr. Wilson is a whirlwind of energy, is determined to position the university as a major higher education entity in Los Angeles, and has initiated various new planning and communications processes on the campus. She is credited with opening the budget process. As President, Dr. Wilson communicates the message that the university should be student centered. Following the earthquake, Dr. Wilson rallied the faculty, staff, and students and led a physical transformation of the campus so that it could open for the 1993 spring semester. Dr. Wilson has initiated a strategic planning process, established an office of University Relations, and has been changing the culture of the institution. Some faculty and staff have having difficulty adjusting to Dr. Wilson's willingness to question tradition and past practice and her pro-active management style; some cite her departure from expectations and traditions of the Northridge faculty with regard to governance as an area of concern.
In a very brief time, Dr. Wilson has demonstrated that she is extremely enthusiastic, energetic, and dedicated to improving the public perception of California State University, Northridge. She has high academic standards and aspirations for California State University, Northridge. From my perspective, Dr. Wilson is a national leader in higher education. The Board of Trustees and I encourage President Wilson and the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community supporters of California State University, Northridge to continue working closely to enhance and strengthen the campus.
Future goals for the president and university shall include:
¥ continue proposing and discussing changes to improve academic programs, student services and administrative functions.;
¥ continue communicating the importance of aiming for new heights of academic quality as one means of gaining recognition for the university;
¥ work with faculty leadership leadership to clarify the role of faculty as one of the several constituencies engaged in the shared governance of the institution and,
¥ continue progress in university advancement program.
The next periodic review of Dr. Blenda Wilson will be conducted in the 1997/98 academic year.
Sincerely,
Barry Munitz
Chancellor